Tempers flared up again on the NCAA circuit when two women’s teams almost came to blows. In a recent matchup between the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs and the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, things turned into an ugly jump ball situation as the Bulldogs again failed to bounce back from their previous defeat to Charleston. The Buccaneers figuratively shot the Runnin’ Bulldogs down with a 76-69 win.
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Previously, when the two teams locked horns, Charleston beat Gardner-Webb in an 83-61 win. As a result, the Bulldogs were looking to bounce back; instead, they had to eat dust for the second time, leading to some unpleasantries in the middle of the game.
When shoving a jump ball can get you fouled
Gardner-Webb’s guard Lauren Bailey engaged in a snatch fight with Charleston’s guard Jordan Berry while catching a jump ball. The officials and their teammates intervened to break off the heat, and just then the other two opponents, Kennedi Jackson and Micahla Funderburk, exchanged some heated comments with each other. Then again, their teammates intervened, and both teams headed off to their respective benches.
However, the anticipation of facing another loss to the same team was visible in the Bulldogs as Bailey snatched Berry’s shirt while she elbowed her way off of Bailey’s hands. This shows the naive and immature side of the Bulldogs which is probably hindering the team’s chemical development and their way up the ladder to success.
Both teams ended up committing technical fouls, with 3 on Gardner-Webb and 2 on Charleston Southern; hence, there were two technical free throws offered to Charleston Southern.
Taking a closer look at the game, both teams tied by scoring 12 points in the first quarter. Then Charleston took the lead in the second, with Gardner-Webb trailing by 3 points. The lead then bounced back again to the Bulldogs with 23 points, and they then added one more point to the score; however, the Buccaneers played their wildcard defense and kept the Bulldogs’ score to 24 points, while they scored 34 in the fourth.
Hence, the lead simply went back and forth, with Charleston thrashing Gardner-Webb again.
Performance analysis
Both teams have been performing well this season. Taking up Gardner-Webb first, the team currently ranks at #7 in the Big South. One of its key players, junior guard Ashley Hawkins, has been averaging 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Senior guard Micahla Funderburk has been averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. Similarly, freshman guard Lauren Bailey has been averaging 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game.
On the other hand, Charleston’s leading scorer, Catherine Alben, has been averaging 14.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Forward Kennedi Jackson has also been contributing 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and an assist per game, while Madison Adamson has been adding 7.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
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What are your thoughts on this kind of heated behavior among athletes on the court? Tell us in the comments.
